IATSE Taps Jillian Arnold As Union's First Labor & Technology Intelligence Officer
News Source
β’Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:10:52 +0000
π° What Happened
The film and TV union IATSE has named Jillian Arnold as its first Labor Technology Intelligence Officer. It is a new role focused on how emerging tech, mainly artificial intelligence, changes the work and conditions of members in the US and Canada.
Arnold said technology has shaped her whole career, and that workers need a real voice in how new tools are built and used on set.
π The Backstory
In 2020, Arnold became the first woman and first video engineer elected president of IATSE Local 695 in its 90-year history. She won a second term in 2023. She also chaired the union's AI subcommittee during 2024 contract talks with the studios.
Union leaders say companies may roll out AI at different speeds in the US and Canada, so members need an expert at the bargaining table on both sides of the border.
π― Why It Matters
AI can change who gets hired on a film set. A dedicated union voice gives crews a say in how that happens.
The film and TV union IATSE has named Jillian Arnold as its first Labor Technology Intelligence Officer. It is a new role focused on how emerging tech, mainly artificial intelligence, changes the work and conditions of members in the US and Canada.
Arnold said technology has shaped her whole career, and that workers need a real voice in how new tools are built and used on set.
In 2020, Arnold became the first woman and first video engineer elected president of IATSE Local 695 in its 90-year history. She won a second term in 2023. She also chaired the union's AI subcommittee during 2024 contract talks with the studios.
Union leaders say companies may roll out AI at different speeds in the US and Canada, so members need an expert at the bargaining table on both sides of the border.
AI can change who gets hired on a film set. A dedicated union voice gives crews a say in how that happens.